A former high-ranking police officer in Punjab is in a critical battle for survival after attempting to take his own life, driven to despair by a massive online financial fraud. The incident has sent shockwaves through the law enforcement community and highlighted the terrifying reach of sophisticated cybercrime.
A Desperate Act and a Disturbing Note
Amar Singh Chahal, a 66-year-old retired Inspector General (IG) of the Punjab Police, shot himself in the chest at his residence in Patiala's '26-Acre' locality on Monday. The weapon used was his gunman's licensed revolver. Police were alerted around 1:45 PM after a friend of Chahal received a concerning message. A team rushed to the scene and found the former officer unconscious but breathing, with the firearm nearby.
His son and daughter-in-law were present in another part of the house during the incident. Chahal was immediately hospitalized and underwent surgery. Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Varun Sharma confirmed his condition remains critical, while SP Palwinder Singh Cheema stated the next 24 hours are crucial for his recovery.
The most chilling element of the case is a 12-page handwritten note discovered at the scene. In it, Chahal meticulously detailed how he was cheated out of a staggering Rs 8.1 crore in what he described as a "highly sophisticated" online investment fraud.
The Anatomy of a Sophisticated Cyber Scam
According to the note, the fraud operated under the name 'F-777 DBS Wealth Equity Research Group' on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. The scammers posed as senior executives and wealth management advisors, falsely claiming regulatory approvals and associations with well-known financial institutions to appear legitimate.
Chahal outlined a complex scheme designed to build blind trust. It began with offering daily market tips and access to simulated dashboards showing impressive gains. The fraud progressed through stages involving daily trading, Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), over-the-counter trades, and quantitative funds, each promising higher returns.
The former IG wrote that "planted participants" within the group would vouch for the scheme's authenticity whenever doubts arose. This social proof encouraged investors, including Chahal, to deposit increasingly larger sums. The trap snapped shut when he tried to withdraw his money. He was then asked for exorbitant service charges, taxes, membership fees, and even a bribe to expedite the process. Despite making these repeated payments, he never received any of his funds.
Plea for Justice and a Specialized Probe
Disturbingly, Chahal had not filed any formal police complaint about the fraud before his suicide attempt. His note reveals he felt the local police lacked the expertise to handle such a complex, nationwide network. He claimed to have written to the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister, and the Union Finance Minister, seeking intervention.
He made a fervent appeal for the case to be handed to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or a central agency like the CBI, arguing that only a specialized cybercrime probe could dismantle the entire operation. Chahal had preserved crucial digital evidence, including screenshots of dashboards, transaction records, and chat histories, which he referenced and which investigators are now examining.
The financial devastation was profound. Chahal stated that while about Rs 1 crore was his own money, over Rs 7 crore was borrowed from friends and relatives. His note expressed deep remorse and fear for his family's future, absolving anyone else of responsibility for his actions. He also appealed for protection for his family and requested creditors not to pressure them.
A Broader Pattern and Societal Alarm
This tragic event marks the second such incident involving a senior IPS officer in the region in recent months. In October, Haryana Additional Director General (ADG) Y Puran Kumar died by suicide using his gunman's pistol at his Chandigarh home.
The case of a seasoned police officer, trained to recognize crime and deception, falling victim to such a scam is a stark indicator of how convincing these digital frauds have become. It underscores that cybercriminals are now targeting educated, aware individuals with elaborate schemes that exploit greed and the promise of quick wealth.
Patiala police have stated that their immediate priority is Chahal's treatment, but they are simultaneously preserving evidence and examining the serious allegations laid out in the note. The investigation into the alleged 'F-777 DBS Wealth Equity Research Group' and the trail of bank accounts mentioned by Chahal is now underway.
Colleagues and residents in Patiala remembered Chahal, a 1990-batch IPS officer, as a capable and empathetic officer who was particularly attuned to farmers' issues and Sikh community concerns. His current struggle has become a grim symbol of the pervasive threat posed by organized cyber fraud in India today.
